Detection device and ice maker

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a detection device and an ice maker. The detection device comprises a temperature sensor used for detecting the temperature of liquid, and the temperature sensor is provided with a first conductive part; the second conductive part is arranged on one side of the temperature sensor, the second conductive part and the first conductive part form a liquid level detection loop, and the liquid level detection loop can form an access under the condition that liquid makes contact with the first conductive part and the second conductive part at the same time so as to generate a corresponding liquid level signal. According to the detection device, temperature detection and liquid level detection are integrated, the liquid temperature can be detected, the liquid level height can also be detected, the structure is compact, and concentrated wiring is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of ice making equipment, in particular to a detection device and an ice making machine. Background Art

[0002] At present, ice machines on the market usually include three parts: a liquid storage tank, a water pump and an ice making module. The water pump pumps the water in the liquid storage tank to the ice making module, and the ice making module cools the water into ice. In order to ensure that the ice maker can make ice smoothly and effectively, multiple sensors are usually set in the liquid storage tank, such as temperature sensors and high and low liquid sensors. Multiple sensors are scattered in the liquid storage tank, which makes the lines confusing and difficult to wire. Utility Model Content

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a detection device and an ice maker to at least solve one of the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art or related art.

[0004] One aspect of an embodiment of the utility model provides a detection device, which includes: a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a liquid, on which a first conductive member is disposed; a second conductive member, which is disposed on one side of the temperature sensor and forms a liquid level detection circuit together with the first conductive member, wherein the liquid level detection circuit can form a passage when the liquid contacts the first conductive member and the second conductive member at the same time, so as to generate a corresponding liquid level signal.

[0005] The detection device provided in the embodiment of this aspect integrates temperature detection and liquid level detection. Specifically, a temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the liquid. At the same time, a first conductive member is arranged on the temperature sensor, and a second conductive member is arranged on one side of the temperature sensor. The first conductive member and the second conductive member form a liquid level detection circuit to detect the liquid level height, so that the detection device can detect both the liquid temperature and the liquid level height, and has a compact structure, which is conducive to centralized wiring.

[0006] In some embodiments, the temperature sensor is a temperature sensing probe, the first conductive member is a metal conductive cover, the first conductive member is covered on the outer surface of the temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the liquid through the first conductive member. The temperature sensor and the first conductive member have a simple structure and are easy to process, and the first sensor can be stably mounted on the temperature sensor.

[0007] In some embodiments, the second conductive member is a conductive probe, and the conductive probe and the temperature sensor are arranged side by side. The structure is simple and easy to process.

[0008] In some embodiments, a first insulating member is further disposed on the temperature sensor, and at least a portion of the first conductive member is located above the first insulating member, so that the liquid contacts the first conductive member after submerging the first insulating member.

[0009] In these embodiments, when applying and installing the temperature sensor, at least a portion of the first conductive member is located above the first insulating member. In this way, during the process of detecting the liquid level by the liquid level detection circuit, the liquid level needs to be higher than the height of the first insulating member to be able to electrically contact with the first conductive member. This can improve the accuracy of liquid level detection and avoid the situation where the liquid level is very low and only residual water stains remain, and the liquid also contacts the first conductive member, causing the liquid level detection circuit to be misconnected.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second conductive member is a conductive probe, and a second insulating member is disposed at the bottom of the second conductive member so that the liquid contacts the second conductive member after passing through the second insulating member.

[0011] In these embodiments, when installing the second conductive member, the second conductive member can be arranged upright so that at least a portion of the second conductive member is above the second insulating member. In this way, during the process of detecting the liquid level by the liquid level detection circuit, the liquid level needs to be higher than the height of the second insulating member to be able to electrically contact with the second conductive member. This can improve the accuracy of liquid level detection and avoid the situation where the liquid contacts the second conductive member when the liquid level is very low and only residual water stains remain, thereby causing the liquid level detection circuit to be misconnected.

[0012] In some embodiments, the detection device further includes: a detection box, the first end of the detection box has a liquid inlet, the second end of the detection box has a liquid outlet, at least a portion of the temperature sensor and at least a portion of the second conductive member are located in the detection box, the temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the liquid flowing into the detection box, and the liquid level detection circuit generates a corresponding liquid level signal based on the liquid level in the detection box. Here, the temperature sensor and the second conductive member are integrated into the detection box, and the detection device has a compact structure and good integrity.

[0013] In some embodiments, a first mounting opening and a second mounting opening are provided on the bottom wall of the detection box, the temperature sensor extends into the detection box through the first mounting opening, and a first sealing member is provided between the temperature sensor and the first mounting opening, the second conductive member extends into the detection box through the second mounting opening, and a second sealing member is provided between the second conductive member and the second mounting opening. The design of the first sealing member and the second sealing member can prevent the liquid in the detection box from leaking out. In addition, the temperature sensor and the second conductive member are provided on the bottom wall of the detection box, which is conducive to the temperature sensor and the second conductive member remaining in an upright state after the detection box is installed in a designated position.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first sealing member is a first sealing ring, and a portion of the first sealing ring extends into the inner side of the detection box to form a first insulating member, so that the liquid contacts the first conductive member when the liquid is higher than the first insulating member.

[0015] In these embodiments, the first sealing member not only seals but also insulates, eliminating the need for additional insulating members, reducing parts and components, and saving costs. Furthermore, when detecting the liquid level, the liquid level must be higher than the first insulating member to contact the first conductive member, which can avoid misjudging the liquid level when only a small amount of liquid remains in the detection box and still contacts the first conductive member.

[0016] In some embodiments, the second sealing member is a second sealing ring, and a portion of the second sealing ring extends into the inner side of the detection box to form a second insulating member, so that the liquid contacts the second conductive member when the liquid is higher than the second insulating member.

[0017] In these embodiments, the second sealing member not only seals but also insulates, eliminating the need for additional insulating members, reducing parts and components, and saving costs. Furthermore, when detecting the liquid level, the liquid level must be higher than the second insulating member to contact the second conductive member, which can avoid misjudging the liquid level when only a small amount of liquid remains in the detection box and still contacts the second conductive member.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first end of the detection box has a first hollow column protruding outwards, the first hollow column surrounds the liquid inlet, and the second end of the detection box has a second hollow column protruding outwards, the second hollow column surrounds the liquid outlet. It is convenient for the detection box to be connected to other pipelines through the first hollow column protruding outwards and the second hollow column, so that the liquid flows through the detection box.

[0019] In some embodiments, the detection box includes a box body and a box cover covering the top of the box body, and the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are arranged on the box body.

[0020] The second aspect of the utility model provides an ice-making machine, which includes a liquid storage tank, a pump body and an ice-making module. The pump body is connected to the liquid storage tank and the ice-making module through a pipeline to pump the liquid in the liquid storage tank to the ice-making module. The ice-making machine also includes: a detection device as in any one of the above embodiments, the detection device is arranged in the liquid storage tank or on the pipeline, the temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank, and the liquid level detection circuit is used to detect the liquid level height in the liquid storage tank; a controller, the controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the ice-making module respectively, and the controller can control the ice-making time of the ice-making module according to the detection result of the temperature sensor.

[0021] In the ice making machine provided by the embodiment of this aspect, the detection device of any of the above embodiments is arranged in the liquid storage tank or on the pipeline, and the detection device is used to simultaneously detect the temperature and liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage tank, which has a compact structure and is convenient for centralized wiring. In addition, the controller controls the ice making time of the ice making module according to the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank, which can ensure that when the liquid temperature is low, ice cubes will not be connected due to excessive ice making time, and when the liquid level temperature is high, ice cubes of a set size will not be formed due to insufficient ice making time, which can ensure the ice making effect.

[0022] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes: a prompt device, the controller is also electrically connected to the liquid level detection circuit and the prompt device, and the controller can control the prompt device to send a prompt signal when the liquid level detection circuit is disconnected, so that the user can find out the lack of liquid in the liquid storage tank in time and add liquid to the liquid storage tank.

[0023] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes: a shell, the liquid storage tank is detachably placed in the shell, and the detection device is arranged on the pipeline.

[0024] In these embodiments, the liquid storage tank is detachable, which is convenient for disassembling the liquid storage tank to replenish liquid and clean the liquid storage tank. In this case, the detection device is arranged on the pipeline and separated from the liquid storage tank by a certain distance, and the removal of the liquid storage tank will not affect the detection device. Compared with the detection device being arranged on the liquid storage tank and being removed together with the liquid storage tank, the detection device can avoid detection failure due to displacement and loose contact.

[0025] In some embodiments, the detection device is disposed on a pipeline between the pump body and the ice-making module, and the pipeline is connected to the bottom of the liquid storage tank. In this way, even if the liquid level in the liquid storage tank is low, it can still enter the position of the detection device through the pipeline, so that the detection device can reflect the liquid level in the liquid storage tank according to the liquid situation in the pipeline.

[0026] A third aspect of the utility model provides an ice-making machine, which includes a liquid storage tank, a pump body and an ice-making module. The pump body is connected to the liquid storage tank and the ice-making module through a pipeline to pump the liquid in the liquid storage tank to the ice-making module. The ice-making machine also includes: a first conductive member and a second conductive member, which are arranged side by side on the pipeline to form a liquid level detection circuit. The liquid level detection circuit can form a passage when the liquid contacts the first conductive member and the second conductive member at the same time to generate a corresponding liquid level signal.

[0027] In the ice-making machine provided by the embodiment of the present invention, two conductive parts are arranged on the pipeline between the liquid storage tank and the ice-making module to form a liquid level detection circuit, so that the liquid level detection circuit reflects the liquid level in the liquid storage tank according to the liquid level in the pipeline, and the liquid level detection structure is kept away from the liquid storage tank, which can avoid the wiring confusion caused by the fact that multiple sensors are arranged on the liquid storage tank in the related art.

[0028] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes: a detection box, a first end of the detection box having a liquid inlet, a second end of the detection box having a liquid outlet, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet being connected in a pipeline, a first conductive member and a second conductive member being inserted into the detection box, so that the liquid level detection circuit generates a corresponding liquid level signal based on the liquid level in the detection box. Here, the two conductive members are integrated on the detection box, and during assembly, only one opening is left on the pipeline to install the detection box, thereby reducing the probability of water leakage in the pipeline.

[0029] In some embodiments, the ice maker further comprises: a housing, and the liquid storage tank is detachably placed in the housing, so that the liquid storage tank can be easily disassembled and cleaned without interfering with the liquid level detection circuit.

[0030] In some embodiments, the ice maker further comprises: a temperature sensor disposed on the pipeline. Here, even if the temperature sensor is also disposed on the pipeline, since the pipeline is long and there is more space near the pipeline, it is also convenient for wiring.

[0031] In some embodiments, the pipeline is connected to the bottom of the liquid storage tank. In this way, as long as there is a certain amount of liquid in the liquid storage tank, it can smoothly enter the pipeline, which is convenient for the liquid level detection circuit to promptly determine whether there is liquid in the liquid storage tank. In addition, it can also prevent the liquid in the liquid storage tank from being unable to enter the pipeline and accumulating in the liquid storage tank for a long time.

[0032] In some embodiments, the first conductive member and the second conductive member are conductive probes, which have a simple structure and are easy to process.

[0033] Other aspects and / or advantages of the general inventive concept will be partially set forth in the following description, and some will be clear from the description or may be learned through implementation of the general inventive concept. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent through the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of a detection device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0036] Figure 2 A longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of an ice-making machine according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0037] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Description of Figure Numbers:

[0038] 10. Detection device;

[0039] 110 temperature sensor; 120 first conductive member; 130 second conductive member; 140 detection box; 141 box body; 1411 liquid inlet; 1412 liquid outlet; 1413 first hollow column; 1414 second hollow column; 1415 first mounting port; 1416 second mounting port; 142 box cover; 150 first sealing ring; 151 first insulating member; 160 second sealing ring; 161 second insulating member;

[0040] 20 fluid storage tanks;

[0041] 30 pump body; 310 pipeline;

[0042] 40 ice making modules;

[0043] 50 refrigerators;

[0044] 60 shells. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The following specific embodiments are provided to help the reader obtain a comprehensive understanding of the methods, devices and / or systems described herein. However, after understanding the disclosure of the present application, various changes, modifications and equivalents of the methods, devices and / or systems described herein will be clear. For example, the order of operations described herein is only an example and is not limited to those orders set forth herein, but can be changed as will be clear after understanding the disclosure of the present application, except for operations that must occur in a specific order. In addition, for greater clarity and simplicity, the description of features known in the art may be omitted.

[0046] The features described herein can be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided to illustrate only some of the many possible ways to implement the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein, which will be clear after understanding the disclosure of the present application.

[0047] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one of the associated listed items and any combination of any two or more.

[0048] Although terms such as "first", "second", and "third" may be used herein to describe various members, components, regions, layers, or portions, these members, components, regions, layers, or portions should not be limited by these terms. Instead, these terms are only used to distinguish one member, component, region, layer, or portion from another member, component, region, layer, or portion. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, the first member, first component, first region, first layer, or first portion referred to in the examples may also be referred to as the second member, second component, second region, second layer, or second portion.

[0049] In the specification, when an element such as a layer, a region or a substrate is described as being “on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, the element may be directly “on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, or one or more other elements may be present therebetween. Conversely, when an element is described as being “directly on”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element, other elements may not be present therebetween.

[0050] The terms used herein are only used to describe various examples and are not intended to limit the disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. The terms "comprise", "include" and "have" indicate the presence of the described features, quantities, operations, components, elements and / or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, operations, components, elements and / or combinations thereof. The term "plurality" represents any number of two and more than two.

[0051] The definitions of directional terms such as "above", "below", "top" and "bottom" in this application are all based on the directional definitions of the product in normal use.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical terms and scientific terms, have the same meanings as those generally understood by ordinary technicians in the field to which the present invention belongs after understanding the present invention. Unless explicitly defined as such herein, terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant field and the present invention, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal way.

[0053] The following will be combined Figure 1 and Figure 2 The detection device 10 provided in the embodiment of the utility model and the ice making machine having the detection device 10 are introduced.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, one aspect of an embodiment of the utility model provides a detection device 10, which includes: a temperature sensor 110 for detecting the temperature of the liquid, and a first conductive member 120 is arranged on the temperature sensor 110; a second conductive member 130 is arranged on one side of the temperature sensor 110, and forms a liquid level detection circuit together with the first conductive member 120, and the liquid level detection circuit can form a passage when the liquid contacts the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 at the same time, so as to generate a corresponding liquid level signal.

[0055] The detection device 10 provided in the embodiment of this aspect integrates temperature detection and liquid level detection. Specifically, the temperature sensor 110 is used to detect the liquid temperature. At the same time, a first conductive member 120 is set on the temperature sensor 110, and a second conductive member 130 is set on one side of the temperature sensor 110. The first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 form a liquid level detection circuit to detect the liquid level height, so that the detection device 10 can detect both the liquid temperature and the liquid level height, and has a compact structure, which is conducive to centralized wiring.

[0056] In a specific application, when the liquid contacts the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 at the same time, the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 are energized by the liquid, and a liquid level detection circuit forms a path, which can generate a corresponding liquid signal to reflect that the liquid has at least reached the position of the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130. When the liquid is not in contact with at least one of the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130, the power is cut off between the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130, and the liquid level detection circuit forms an open circuit, which can generate a corresponding liquid level signal to reflect that the liquid level has not reached the height of contacting the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 at the same time, thereby realizing the detection of the liquid level.

[0057] As for the detection of the liquid temperature, when the first conductive member 120 completely wraps the temperature sensor 110, the temperature sensor 110 can detect the liquid temperature through the first conductive member 120. The first conductive member 120 is usually made of metal and has good thermal conductivity. Therefore, the temperature sensor 110 can also detect the liquid temperature with good accuracy through the first conductive member 120. Of course, the first conductive member 120 can also not completely wrap the temperature sensor 110. In this case, the exposed part of the temperature sensor 110 can be directly in contact with the liquid, thereby detecting the liquid temperature and measuring the temperature accurately.

[0058] Regarding the specific structure of the first conductive member 120, further, in some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the temperature sensor 110 is a temperature sensing probe, and the first conductive member 120 is a metal conductive cover, which is provided on the outer surface of the temperature sensing probe. The temperature sensing probe detects the temperature of the liquid through the first conductive member 120. The first conductive member 120 has a simple structure and is easy to process, which is conducive to stable installation on the temperature sensor 110. Moreover, the original structure of the temperature sensing probe will not be damaged, and it is convenient to connect the lead wire at the bottom of the metal conductive cover to energize.

[0059] Of course, the temperature sensor 110 and the first conductive member 120 may also be other structures. For example, the temperature sensor 110 is a temperature sensing probe, the first conductive member 120 is a conductive bump, which is arranged on the top of the temperature sensor 110, and the temperature sensor 110 has a cavity inside, and the lead wire extends into the temperature sensing probe and is connected to the conductive bump. For another example, the first conductive member 120 is a metal wire, which is embedded and arranged on the outside of the temperature sensing probe and extends from the top of the temperature sensing probe to the bottom, so that the lead wire is conveniently connected to the bottom of the metal wire.

[0060] Regarding the specific structure of the second conductive member 130, further, in some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the second conductive member 130 is a conductive probe, and the conductive probe is arranged side by side with the temperature sensor 110. The structure is simple and easy to process.

[0061] Of course, the second conductive member 130 may also be other structures, not limited to the conductive probe. For example, the second conductive member 130 may also be an electrode sheet.

[0062] To improve the accuracy of liquid level detection, further, in some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, a first insulating member 151 is further disposed on the temperature sensor 110 , and at least a portion of the first conductive member 120 is located above the first insulating member 151 , so that the liquid contacts the first conductive member 120 after submerging the first insulating member 151 .

[0063] In these embodiments, when the temperature sensor 110 is applied and installed, when the temperature sensor 110 is a temperature sensing probe, refer to Figure 1 , the temperature sensing probe can be set upright, so that at least a part of the first conductive member 120 is located above the first insulating member 151. In this way, when the liquid level detection circuit detects the liquid level, the liquid level needs to be higher than the height of the first insulating member 151 to be able to electrically contact with the first conductive member 120, which can improve the accuracy of liquid level detection and avoid the situation where the liquid level is very low and only residual water stains are left, and the liquid also contacts the first conductive member 120, causing the liquid level detection circuit to be misconnected.

[0064] Furthermore, the first insulating member 151 may cover the outer side of the first conductive member 120, thereby preventing the liquid from contacting the first conductive member 120 when the liquid level is lower than the first insulating member 151. Figure 1 As shown, the first insulating member 151 is sleeve-shaped and sleeved on the outside of the first conductive member 120. For another example, the first insulating member 151 is an insulating film covering the outside of the first conductive member 120 or an insulating coating sprayed on the outside of the first conductive member 120.

[0065] Further, the first insulating member 151 may be located as a whole below the first conductive member 120. In this case, the first conductive member 120 does not completely wrap the temperature sensor 110. For example, the first conductive member 120 is sleeved on the head of the temperature sensor 110. The first insulating member 151 may be in the shape of a sleeve, sleeved on the outside of the temperature sensor 110 and located below the first conductive member 120, or the first insulating member 151 is an insulating coating sprayed on the outside of the first conductive member 120.

[0066] The specific structure and location of the first insulating member 151 are related to the shape and location of the first conductive member 120 , and are not listed in detail here.

[0067] Furthermore, in some embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, the second conductive member 130 is a conductive probe, and a second insulating member 161 is disposed at the bottom of the second conductive member 130 so that the liquid contacts the second conductive member 130 after passing through the second insulating member 161 .

[0068] In these embodiments, when installing the second conductive member 130, refer to Figure 1 , the second conductive member 130 can be arranged vertically, so that at least a part of the second conductive member 130 is above the second insulating member 161. In this way, when the liquid level detection circuit detects the liquid level, the liquid level needs to be higher than the height of the second insulating member 161 to be able to electrically contact with the second conductive member 130, which can improve the accuracy of liquid level detection and avoid the situation where the liquid level is very low and only residual water stains are left, and the liquid also contacts the second conductive member 130, causing the liquid level detection circuit to be misconnected.

[0069] Further, the second insulating member 161 may cover the outer side of the second conductive member 130, thereby preventing the liquid from contacting the second conductive member 130 when the liquid level is lower than the second insulating member 161. For example, the second insulating member 161 is in a sleeve shape and is sleeved on the outer side of the second conductive member 130. For another example, the second insulating member 161 is an insulating film covering the outer side of the second conductive member 130 or an insulating coating sprayed on the outer side of the second conductive member 130.

[0070] Furthermore, the second insulating member 161 may also be entirely located below the second conductive member 130. For example, the second insulating member 161 may be an insulating block, and the second conductive member 130 is vertically disposed on the top of the insulating block.

[0071] The specific structure and location of the second insulating member 161 are related to the shape and location of the second conductive member 130 , and are not listed in detail here.

[0072] In a specific application, when the detection device 10 is applied to an ice maker and the detection device 10 is set in the liquid storage tank 20 of the ice maker, if the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130 extend into the bottom wall of the liquid storage tank 20, if there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20, or only residual water stains cover the bottom wall of the liquid storage tank 20, the water on the bottom wall of the liquid storage tank 20 may also conduct the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130, resulting in the detection device 10 may not accurately detect that there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20. Therefore, if the first insulating member 151 is used to wrap the bottom of the first conductive member 120, then when only water stains remain in the liquid storage tank 20, the water stains are blocked by the first insulating member 151 and cannot contact the first conductive member 120, and the liquid level detection circuit is broken, and it can be accurately detected that there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20. When there is water in the liquid storage tank 20 , the water can cover the first insulating member 151 and contact the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 , so that a liquid level detection circuit forms a path, and the liquid storage tank 20 is accurately detected to have a certain amount of liquid.

[0073] Similarly, when the detection device 10 is applied to an ice-making machine and the detection device 10 is disposed on the pipe 310 connecting the liquid storage tank 20 and the ice-making module 40, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 When there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20 and the pump body 30 stops pumping water, some water may remain in the pipeline 310 or the detection box 140 containing the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130. In this case, if the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130 are arranged at the bottom of the pipeline 310 or on the bottom wall of the detection box 140, there is a probability that the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 are connected by the residual water, so that the liquid level detection circuit is misconnected and cannot accurately detect that there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20. If the first insulating member 151 is arranged on the first conductive member 120 to wrap the bottom of the first conductive member 120, the residual water in the pipeline 310 or the detection box 140 can be blocked by the first insulating member 151 and cannot contact the first conductive member 120, and the liquid level detection circuit is disconnected, and it can accurately detect that there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20, thereby improving the detection accuracy. When there is water in the liquid storage tank 20 and the pump body 30 is turned on, a large amount of water can be pumped out to flow through the pipeline 310 and the detection box 140. At this time, the water can pass through the first insulating member 151 and contact the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130, so that the liquid level detection circuit forms a passage, and accurately detects that there is a certain amount of liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 without adding water.

[0074] Furthermore, in some embodiments, Figure 1As shown, the detection device 10 further includes: a detection box 140, a first end of the detection box 140 has a liquid inlet 1411, a second end of the detection box 140 has a liquid outlet 1412, at least a portion of the temperature sensor 110 and at least a portion of the second conductive member 130 are located in the detection box 140, the temperature sensor 110 is used to detect the temperature of the liquid flowing into the detection box 140, and the liquid level detection circuit generates a corresponding liquid level signal based on the liquid level in the detection box 140. Here, the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130 are integrated into the detection box 140, and the detection device 10 has a compact structure and good integrity.

[0075] Further, a first installation opening 1415 and a second installation opening 1416 are provided on the bottom wall of the detection box 140, the temperature sensor 110 extends into the detection box 140 through the first installation opening 1415, and a first sealing member is provided between the temperature sensor 110 and the first installation opening 1415, the second conductive member 130 extends into the detection box 140 through the second installation opening 1416, and a second sealing member is provided between the second conductive member 130 and the second installation opening 1416. The design of the first sealing member and the second sealing member can prevent the liquid in the detection box 140 from leaking out. In addition, the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130 are provided on the bottom wall of the detection box 140, which is conducive to the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130 to remain in an upright state after the detection box 140 is installed at a designated position.

[0076] Furthermore, the first sealing member is a first sealing ring 150, and a portion of the first sealing ring 150 extends into the inner side of the detection box 140 to form a first insulating member 151, so that the liquid contacts the first conductive member 120 when the liquid is higher than the first insulating member 151. In this way, the first sealing member not only plays a sealing role, but also plays an insulating role, which can prevent the detection box 140 from having only a small amount of residual liquid still contacting the first conductive member 120, thereby preventing the liquid level from being misjudged. In addition, the additional insulating member is eliminated, the number of components is reduced, and the cost is saved.

[0077] Similarly, the second sealing member is a second sealing ring 160, and a portion of the second sealing ring 160 extends into the inner side of the detection box 140 to form a second insulating member 161, so that the liquid contacts the second conductive member 130 when it is higher than the second insulating member 161. In this way, the second sealing member not only plays a sealing role, but also plays an insulating role. It can avoid that only a small amount of residual liquid in the detection box 140 is still in contact with the second conductive member 130, resulting in a misjudgment of the liquid level. In addition, the additional insulating member is eliminated, the number of parts is reduced, and the cost is saved.

[0078] Since the liquid needs to simultaneously solve the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 to form a path for the liquid level detection circuit, the first insulating member 151 and the second insulating member 161 may exist at the same time, or only one of them may exist.

[0079] In addition, in order to improve the accuracy of liquid level detection, the upper edges of the first insulating member 151 and the second insulating member 161 can also be made to exceed the lower edges of the liquid inlet 1411 and the lower edges of the liquid outlet 1412. The liquid level in the detection box 140 needs to be higher than the lower edges of the liquid inlet 1411 and the liquid outlet 1412 to be able to contact the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130, ensuring that more liquid enters the detection box 140 to trigger the liquid level detection circuit to form a path, rather than relying solely on the residual liquid in the detection box 140 to trigger the liquid level detection circuit to form a path.

[0080] Of course, in other embodiments, the side wall of the detection box 140 may be provided with a first installation opening 1415 and a second installation opening 1416, so that the temperature sensor 110 extends into the detection box 140 through the first installation opening 1415, and a first sealing member is provided between the temperature sensor 110 and the first installation opening 1415, and the second conductive member 130 extends into the detection box 140 through the second installation opening 1416, and a second sealing member is provided between the second conductive member 130 and the second installation opening 1416. In this way, when the detection device 10 is used for detection, the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130 can be extended horizontally, and the temperature sensor 110 can still be used to detect the temperature of the liquid flowing through, and when the liquid level reaches the height of the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130, a liquid level detection circuit forms a passage. In this case, a set distance can be left between the temperature sensor 110, the second conductive member 130 and the bottom wall of the detection box 140, so that only liquid remains in the detection box 140. When there is no liquid to be replenished, the remaining liquid will not contact the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130, thereby avoiding liquid level detection errors.

[0081] Of course, during the installation of the detection box 140, the installation posture of the detection box 140 can also be changed according to user needs, such as making the box cover 142 face upward, or making the box cover 142 face one side in the horizontal direction, to change the posture of the temperature sensor 110 and the second conductive member 130 during detection.

[0082] Furthermore, in some embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, the first end of the detection box 140 has a first hollow column 1413 protruding outwards, and the first hollow column 1413 surrounds a liquid inlet 1411. The second end of the detection box 140 has a second hollow column 1414 protruding outwards, and the second hollow column 1414 surrounds a liquid outlet 1412. The detection box 140 is conveniently connected to other pipelines 310 through the protruding first hollow column 1413 and the second hollow column 1414, so that the liquid flows through the detection box 140.

[0083] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 When the detection device 10 is applied to an ice-making machine, the detection box 140 can be set on the pipeline 310 connecting the pump body 30 and the ice-making module 40, and the first hollow column 1413 and the second hollow column 1414 are respectively inserted into the pipeline 310 at both ends to realize the flow of liquid through the detection box 140 to the ice-making module 40, thereby facilitating the detection device 10 to detect the liquid level temperature and liquid level.

[0084] Furthermore, in some embodiments, Figure 1 As shown, the detection box 140 includes a box body 141 and a box cover 142 covering the top of the box body 141, and a liquid inlet 1411 and a liquid outlet 1412 are arranged on the box body 141. It is convenient for processing.

[0085] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the box body 141 and the box cover 142 are welded together by ultrasonic welding, which is easy to process, has a firm connection, and has a good sealing effect and is not prone to water leakage.

[0086] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the second embodiment of the utility model provides an ice-making machine, which includes a liquid storage tank 20, a pump body 30 and an ice-making module 40. The pump body 30 is connected to the liquid storage tank 20 and the ice-making module 40 through a pipeline 310 to pump the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 to the ice-making module 40. The ice-making machine also includes: a detection device 10 as in any one of the above embodiments, the detection device 10 is arranged in the liquid storage tank 20 or on the pipeline 310, the temperature sensor 110 is used to detect the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20, and the liquid level detection circuit is used to detect the liquid level height in the liquid storage tank 20; a controller (not shown in the figure), the controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor 110 and the ice-making module 40 respectively, and the controller can control the ice-making time of the ice-making module 40 according to the detection result of the temperature sensor 110.

[0087] The ice maker provided by the embodiment of this aspect is provided with the detection device 10 of any of the above embodiments in the liquid storage tank 20 or on the pipeline 310, and the detection device 10 is used to simultaneously detect the temperature and liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20, which has a compact structure and is convenient for centralized wiring. In addition, the controller controls the ice making time of the ice making module 40 according to the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20, which can ensure that when the liquid temperature is low, ice cubes will not be connected due to excessive ice making time, and when the liquid level temperature is high, ice cubes of a set size will not be formed due to insufficient ice making time, which can ensure the ice making effect.

[0088] It should be noted that the pump body 30 is connected to the liquid storage tank 20 and the ice making module 40 through the pipeline 310. When the detection device 10 is arranged on the pipeline 310, the temperature of the liquid flowing from the liquid storage tank 20 into the pipeline 310 is equal to the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20. Therefore, the temperature sensor 110 in the detection device 10 can reflect the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 by detecting the temperature of the liquid in the pipeline 310. In addition, if there is no liquid or very little liquid in the liquid storage tank 20, the pump body 30 cannot pump out the liquid or the liquid pumped into the pipeline 310 is also very little. In this way, the liquid level detection circuit located on the pipeline 310 can reflect the liquid level in the liquid storage tank 20 by detecting the liquid entering the pipeline 310. Even if the detection device 10 is arranged on the pipeline 310, the temperature and liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 can be detected.

[0089] In some embodiments, the ice maker further includes a prompt device (not shown in the figure), and the controller is also electrically connected to the liquid level detection circuit and the prompt device. The controller can control the prompt device to send a prompt signal when the liquid level detection circuit is disconnected, so that the user can find out that the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 is insufficient in time, and then add liquid to the liquid storage tank 20.

[0090] In some embodiments, Figure 2 As shown, the ice maker further includes a housing 60 , the liquid storage tank 20 is detachably placed in the housing 60 , and the detection device 10 is arranged on the pipeline 310 .

[0091] In these embodiments, the liquid storage tank 20 is detachable, which is convenient for disassembling the liquid storage tank 20 to replenish the liquid and to clean the liquid storage tank 20. In this case, the detection device 10 is arranged on the pipeline 310 and is separated from the liquid storage tank 20 by a certain distance. The disassembly of the liquid storage tank 20 will not affect the detection device 10. Compared with the detection device 10 being arranged on the liquid storage tank 20 and disassembled together with the liquid storage tank 20, the detection failure caused by the displacement of the detection device 10 due to loose contact can be avoided.

[0092] Further, the detection device 10 is arranged on the pipeline 310 between the pump body 30 and the ice making module 40. The pipeline 310 is communicated with the bottom of the liquid storage tank 20. Here, the pump body 30 may have a valve itself or may not have a valve.

[0093] If the pump body 30 has a valve and is in a closed state when not opened, the pipeline 310 connected at both ends thereof is not conductive. The detection device 10 needs to detect the temperature and liquid level of the liquid flowing through after the pump body 30 is opened. Specifically, if the pump body 30 cannot suck liquid or sucks out very little liquid, the liquid level detection circuit of the detection device 10 is in an open circuit state, and a corresponding bottom liquid level signal can be generated. If the pump body 30 sucks enough liquid and a large amount of liquid flows into the pipeline 310, the liquid level detection circuit can be in a pass state, thereby generating a corresponding sufficient liquid level signal.

[0094] If the pump body 30 does not have a valve and is in a conducting state when not opened, the pipeline 310 connected at both ends thereof is always in a connected state. Then the detection device 10 can detect the liquid temperature and liquid level when the pump body 30 is not opened. Specifically, if the height of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 is higher than the inlet end of the pipeline 310, the liquid enters the pipeline 310 and flows through the detection device 10, and the detection device 10 can detect the liquid temperature and liquid level. If there is no liquid or very little liquid in the liquid storage tank 20, and the liquid cannot enter the pipeline 310, the liquid level detection circuit in the detection device 10 is in an open circuit state, and a signal indicating that the liquid level in the liquid storage tank 20 is low can be generated. Of course, the detection device 10 can also detect after the pump body 30 is opened.

[0095] Furthermore, in some embodiments, Figure 2 As shown, the ice maker further includes an ice storage bin 50, which is disposed above the liquid storage tank 20, and has a water leakage opening at the bottom of the ice storage bin 50, so as to conveniently discharge melted ice water into the liquid storage tank 20. In this way, not only the ice water can be recycled, but also the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 can be reduced by using the ice water.

[0096] The third aspect of the present invention provides an ice-making machine, which includes a liquid storage tank 20, a pump body 30 and an ice-making module 40. The pump body 30 is connected to the liquid storage tank 20 and the ice-making module 40 through a pipeline 310 to pump the liquid in the liquid storage tank 20 to the ice-making module 40. The ice-making machine also includes: a first conductive member 120 and a second conductive member 130. The first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 are arranged side by side on the pipeline 310 and form a liquid level detection circuit. The liquid level detection circuit can form a passage when the liquid contacts the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 at the same time to generate a corresponding liquid level signal.

[0097] In the ice-making machine provided by the embodiment of the present invention, two conductive parts are arranged on the pipeline 310 between the liquid storage tank 20 and the ice-making module 40 to form a liquid level detection circuit, so that the liquid level detection circuit reflects the liquid level in the liquid storage tank 20 according to the liquid level in the pipeline 310, and the liquid level detection structure is kept away from the liquid storage tank 20, which can avoid the wiring confusion caused by the multiple sensors being arranged on the liquid storage tank 20 in the related art.

[0098] The way in which the liquid level detection circuit detects the liquid level here can be the same as the liquid level detection method in the above-mentioned second aspect embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0099] The ice maker may also include a detection box 140, which is connected to the pipeline 310, and the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 are inserted into the detection box 140, so that the liquid level detection circuit generates a corresponding liquid level signal based on the liquid level in the detection box 140. In this way, during assembly, only one opening is left on the pipeline 310 to install the detection box 140, thereby reducing the probability of water leakage in the pipeline 310.

[0100] In addition, the ice maker further comprises a housing 60, so that the liquid storage tank 20 can be detachably placed in the housing 60. The liquid storage tank 20 can be conveniently disassembled and cleaned without interfering with the liquid level detection circuit.

[0101] In addition, the ice maker may further include a temperature sensor 110, and the temperature sensor 110 is disposed in the liquid storage tank 20 or on the pipeline 310. Here, even if the temperature sensor 110 is also disposed on the pipeline 310, since the pipeline 310 is long and there is more space near the pipeline 310, it is also convenient for wiring. Moreover, even if the liquid storage tank 20 is detachable, it will not affect the line connection of the temperature sensor 110. At this time, the temperature sensor 110 does not need to extend into the detection box 140, and is independently disposed from the liquid level detection circuit. In addition, the first conductive member 120 and the second conductive member 130 are conductive probes. The structure is simple and the processing is convenient.

[0102] Hereinafter, an ice making machine according to an embodiment of the present utility model will be described in detail.

[0103] At present, many ice machines on the market have a fixed ice-making time controlled by a program. That is, water is directly pumped from the liquid storage tank to the ice-making module through the pump body. If higher temperature water is used to make ice, the ice cubes in the first few rounds within a fixed time will be relatively small, because it takes a long time to freeze higher temperature water into ice cubes. If the program control prolongs the ice-making time, larger ice cubes will be obtained, but it is easy to cause continuous ice after the water temperature drops, because lower water temperature is easier to be frozen into ice cubes under the same ice-making time.

[0104] The water temperature in the liquid storage tank of the ice maker gradually decreases as the use cycle increases. The lower the water temperature, the easier it is to form ice cubes. This embodiment makes ice by gradually reducing the working time of the compressor in the ice making module 40, which can save energy and avoid continuous ice. Specifically, the temperature probe (as a temperature sensor) allows the ice maker to know the water temperature to be supplied to the ice making unit before each ice making cycle starts, so that the ice making time can be dynamically adjusted through the program according to the water temperature.

[0105] like Figure 2 As shown, a detection box 140 is added to the pipeline 310 of the ice maker, one end of the detection box 140 is connected to the pump body 30 through a silicone water pipe (a part of the pipeline 310), and the other end of the detection box 140 is connected to the ice making module 40 through a silicone water pipe. When the water fills the detection box 140, the temperature sensor will detect the water temperature once. If the water temperature is high, the ice making time can be increased through program control so that better ice cubes can be obtained the first time. If the water temperature is low, the working time of the compressor is reduced, which can save energy and avoid continuous ice.

[0106] A metal probe (as the second conductive member 130) is arranged near the temperature sensing probe. When water flows through the temperature sensing probe and the metal probe, the metal conductive cover (as the first conductive member 120) on the temperature sensing probe forms a path with the metal probe, and the program processes that there is water in the liquid storage tank 20. On the contrary, if there is no water in the pipeline 310, the metal conductive cover and the metal probe are in an open circuit state, and the program considers that there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20, thereby reminding the user to achieve the purpose of detecting whether there is water shortage in the water storage tank.

[0107] Sealing rings are installed on both the temperature sensing probe and the metal probe to prevent water from flowing out of the pipeline 310 .

[0108] The box body 141 and the box cover 142 of the detection box 140 are welded together by ultrasonic welding, which is convenient for processing and can prevent water leakage.

[0109] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that, in the opinion of those skilled in the art, these modifications and variations will still fall within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A detection device, characterized in that: The detection device comprises: A temperature sensor (110) for detecting the temperature of the liquid, wherein the temperature sensor (110) is provided with a first conductive member (120); A second conductive member (130) is arranged on one side of the temperature sensor (110) and forms a liquid level detection circuit together with the first conductive member (120). The liquid level detection circuit is capable of forming a passage when liquid contacts the first conductive member (120) and the second conductive member (130) at the same time, so as to generate a corresponding liquid level signal.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature sensor (110) is a temperature sensing probe, the first conductive member (120) is a metal conductive cover, the first conductive member (120) is disposed on an outer surface of the temperature sensor (110), and the temperature sensor (110) detects the temperature of the liquid via the first conductive member (120); and / or The second conductive member (130) is a conductive probe, and the conductive probe and the temperature sensor (110) are arranged side by side.

3. The detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature sensor (110) is further provided with a first insulating member (151), and at least a portion of the first conductive member (120) is located above the first insulating member (151), so that the liquid contacts the first conductive member (120) after passing through the first insulating member (151); and / or The second conductive member (130) is a conductive probe, and a second insulating member (161) is provided at the bottom of the second conductive member (130) so that the liquid contacts the second conductive member (130) after passing through the second insulating member (161).

4. The detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The detection device (10) further comprises: A detection box (140), wherein the first end of the detection box (140) has a liquid inlet (1411), the second end of the detection box (140) has a liquid outlet (1412), at least a portion of the temperature sensor (110) and at least a portion of the second conductive member (130) are located in the detection box (140), the temperature sensor (110) is used to detect the temperature of liquid flowing into the detection box (140), and the liquid level detection circuit generates a corresponding liquid level signal based on the liquid level in the detection box (140).

5. The detection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A first mounting opening (1415) and a second mounting opening (1416) are provided on the bottom wall of the detection box (140); the temperature sensor (110) extends into the detection box (140) through the first mounting opening (1415), and a first sealing member is provided between the temperature sensor (110) and the first mounting opening (1415); the second conductive member (130) extends into the detection box (140) through the second mounting opening (1416), and a second sealing member is provided between the second conductive member (130) and the second mounting opening (1416).

6. The detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first sealing member is a first sealing ring (150), and the first sealing ring (150) partially extends into the inner side of the detection box (140) to form a first insulating member (151), so that the liquid contacts the first conductive member (120) after passing through the first insulating member (151); and / or The second sealing member is a second sealing ring (160), and a portion of the second sealing ring (160) extends into the inner side of the detection box (140) to form a second insulating member (161), so that the liquid contacts the second conductive member (130) after passing through the second insulating member (161).

7. The detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first end of the detection box (140) has a first hollow column (1413) protruding outwards, and the first hollow column (1413) surrounds the liquid inlet (1411); the second end of the detection box (140) has a second hollow column (1414) protruding outwards, and the second hollow column (1414) surrounds the liquid outlet (1412); and / or The detection box (140) comprises a box body (141) and a box cover (142) covering the top of the box body (141), and the liquid inlet (1411) and the liquid outlet (1412) are arranged on the box body (141).

8. An ice making machine, characterized in that: The ice-making machine comprises a liquid storage tank (20), a pump body (30) and an ice-making module (40); the pump body (30) is connected to the liquid storage tank (20) and the ice-making module (40) via a pipeline (310) so as to pump the liquid in the liquid storage tank (20) to the ice-making module (40); the ice-making machine further comprises: The detection device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the detection device (10) is arranged in the liquid storage tank (20) or on the pipeline (310), the temperature sensor (110) is used to detect the temperature of the liquid in the liquid storage tank (20), and the liquid level detection circuit is used to detect the height of the liquid level in the liquid storage tank (20); A controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor (110) and the ice-making module (40) respectively, and the controller can control the ice-making time of the ice-making module (40) according to the detection result of the temperature sensor (110).

9. The ice making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The ice making machine also includes: The controller is also electrically connected to the liquid level detection circuit and the prompt device. The controller can control the prompt device to send a prompt signal when the liquid level detection circuit is in a broken circuit.

10. The ice making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that The ice making machine also includes: A housing (60), the liquid storage tank (20) is detachably placed in the housing (60), and the detection device (10) is arranged on the pipeline (310); and / or The detection device (10) is arranged on the pipeline (310) between the pump body (30) and the ice-making module (40), and the pipeline (310) is connected to the bottom of the liquid storage tank (20).

11. An ice making machine, characterized in that: The ice-making machine comprises a liquid storage tank (20), a pump body (30) and an ice-making module (40); the pump body (30) is connected to the liquid storage tank (20) and the ice-making module (40) via a pipeline (310) so as to pump the liquid in the liquid storage tank (20) to the ice-making module (40); the ice-making machine further comprises: A first conductive member (120) and a second conductive member (130), wherein the first conductive member (120) and the second conductive member (130) are arranged side by side on the pipeline (310) and form a liquid level detection circuit, wherein the liquid level detection circuit is capable of forming a passage when liquid contacts the first conductive member (120) and the second conductive member (130) at the same time, so as to generate a corresponding liquid level signal.

12. The ice making machine according to claim 11, characterized in that The ice making machine also includes: A detection box (140), wherein the first end of the detection box (140) has a liquid inlet (1411), and the second end of the detection box (140) has a liquid outlet (1412), the liquid inlet (1411) and the liquid outlet (1412) are connected to the pipeline (310), and the first conductive member (120) and the second conductive member (130) are inserted into the detection box (140), so that the liquid level detection circuit generates a corresponding liquid level signal based on the liquid level in the detection box (140).

13. The ice making machine according to claim 11, characterized in that The ice making machine also includes: a housing (60), wherein the liquid storage tank (20) is detachably placed in the housing (60); and / or a temperature sensor (110), disposed on the pipeline (310); and / or The pipeline (310) is in communication with the bottom of the liquid storage tank (20); and / or The first conductive member (120) and the second conductive member (130) are conductive probes.

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